Louisiana's out of inBloom

h/t to Diane Ravitch

You may have missed this with so much else going on, but on Friday, Louisiana state superintendent John White announced to his Board of Education that he was pulling all student data out of inBloom. His memo to his board, which you can read in full here, reads in part:

We have protected student information for decades and take security very seriously. Given the concerns expressed by our most important constituents -- students and families -- I'd like a chance to discuss our policies and procedures with you before we enter into new relationships with partners providing this service

So, students and families: keep the pressure on!  You're being heard!

Note that Worcester's items regarding inBloom are on this week's agenda:

gb #3-114 -  Ms. Novick/Mr. Monfredo                    (March 28, 2013) Forward to our Legislative Delegation and the State's Joint Committee on Education the New York Assembly Bill #A06059 regarding student privacy and urge that they submit and support a similar bill in the Massachusetts Great and General Court.
gb #3-115  - Ms. Novick/Mr. Monfredo                    (March 28, 2013) Request administration ensure that the Worcester Public Schools' is abiding by 201 CMR 17.00 Standards for the Protection of Personal Information of Residents of the Commonwealth and further request administration share student information only with those who can demonstrate that they comply with 201 CMR 17.00.
gb #3-116 - Ms. Novick/Mr. Monfredo/                   Ms. Colorio/Miss Biancheria                   (March 28, 2013) Request administration notify parents of any organization or agency with whom student or family information is shared and procedures for parents denying the sharing of their child's information.
gb #3-117 - Ms. Novick/Mr. O'Connell/                   Mr. Monfredo/Ms. Colorio/                   Miss Biancheria                   (March 28, 2013) Request administration report on the agencies and organizations with whom student information is shared, the circumstances under which it is shared and the measures taken to keep such information secure.

If you're concerned about this, people of Worcester: let us know!